Hair clip

ABSTRACT

A hair clip intended for placement on an individual&#39;&#39;s head adjacent the scalp to direct a portion of the individual&#39;&#39;s hair away from the scalp with the members providing a firm hair clamping action therebetween without the hair coming into contact with any sharp edges which might damage the hair, the rearward ends of the clip members being hingedly interconnected by a polypropylene plastic formed integrally with the clip members and providing a hinge therefor having no moving parts, with the forward end of the clip members having a combination pin and slot locking device adapted to retain the clip in the closed position, and the clip members each being longitudinally curved inwardly to engage their interior midsections together thus providing a resilient clip for firmly holding the individual&#39;&#39;s hair therebetween.

United States Patent Clifton HAIR CLIP Mary A. Clifton, 348 Brown Dr., Sierra Vista, Ariz. 85635 Filed: Aug. 30, 1973 Appl. No.: 393,222

Inventor:

Primary Examiner-G. E. McNeill [57] ABSTRACT A hair clip intended for placement on an individuals head adjacent the scalp to direct a portion of the individuals hair away from the scalp with the members providing a firm hair clamping action therebetween without the hair coming into contact with any sharp edges which might damage the hair, the rearward ends of the clip members being hingedly interconnected by a polypropylene plastic formed integrally with the clip members and providing a hinge therefor having no moving parts, with the forward end of the clip members having a combination pin and slot locking device adapted to retain the clip in the closed position, and the clip members each being longitudinally curved inwardly to engage their interior midsections together thus providing a resilient clip for firmly holding the individuals hair therebetween.

5 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures HAIR CLIP BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to hair clips and more particularly to a novel and improved hair clip adapted for holding an individuals hair in desired positions and particularly adapted for an individuals hair disposed therebetween in a direction away from the individuals scalp.

2. Description of the Prior Art There have long been in use hair clips of various types, sizes and configurations intended for use by both men and women with the normal configuration being the forming of a body of a single piece of material and having a metal fastener hingedly connected to one end of the body and adapted to conform to the back interior portion thereof and be retained by a clasp at the opposite end of the body with the intended operation being to insert the clip into the hair and then retain it in the desired position by closing the metal fastener and securing it in the clasp. While this type of clip is popular, the same has numerous disadvantages in the manufacture of the same requiring clips and fasteners of different materials and the need to hingedly connect the same together, with the use of this type of clip in an individuals hair posing the risk of damage to the hair from coming in contact with any sharp edges about the hinge or clasp connections.

In recognizing this problem, the prior art then advanced to clips wherein both the locking member and body member were manufactured of the same material, such as a plastic, with the hinge including flanges integrally molded with adjacent ends of the fastener and body and with the clasp having a flange molded integrally with the opposite ends of the clip, thus attempting to eliminate all sharp edges on the clip while simultaneously attempting to reduce and simplify the manner of manufacture of the same. However, such devices suffer many manufacturing difficulties as to the requirement that the hinge and clasp be accurately positioned in the respective clip members before the molding process as otherwise the resultant clip does not operate in its intended manner. This results in many manufacturing difficulties in attempting to inexpensively produce such devices while still maintaining a high quality control thereof in order to minimize the number of improperly formed clips which must be discarded.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention remedies and overcomes all of the foregoing deficiencies and disadvantages of presently available hair clips by providing a novel hair clip structure formed of substantially identical clip members manufactured of a plastic material and having the adjacent rearward ends of the clips hingedly connected together by a polypropylene long lasting living hinge with the clip members forward ends having a pin projecting inwardly from one of the ends adapted to engage with a slot in the opposite end to firmly retain the clip in the closed position while permitting for slight transverse adjustment of the clip member to accommodate therebetween various quantities of an individuals hair.

A feature of the present invention is the provision of a hair clip intended for placement on an individuallys head and which provides a firm hair clamping action preventing the hair clip from becoming displaced from the hair.

Still a further feature of the present invention provides a hair clip consisting of all smooth edges and re quiring no gripping teeth, metal edges, or any sharp edges which might pose a risk of damaging the hair clamped therebetween.

Yet still a further feature of the present invention provides a hair clip having elongated flexible members for gripping and positioning engagement about a portion of an individuals hair in a manner particularly advantageouss in the styling of hair of shoulder length wherein the clip is placed adjacent the scalp causing the hair gripped therebetween to be outwardly directed away from the scalp for the use in the styling of the hair, or as may be used by an individual with long hair wishing to direct the same away from the neck during warm weather or for purposes of styling.

The provision of a hair clip such as briefly outlined above, and possessing the stated advantages, constitutes the principal features of the present invention. The proi ision of a hair clip which is relatively simple in its construction and which therefore may be readily manufactured at a relatively low cost and by simple manufacturing methods; one which is devoid of moving parts and which therefore is unlikely to get out of order or to break; one which is rugged and durable and which therefore may be guaranteed by the manufacturer to withstand many years of intended usage; one which is aesthetically pleasing and refined in appearance; one which may be molded completely of a single material for the clip members and hinge and clasp portions; and one which, otherwise, is well adapted to perform the services required of it, are further desirable features which have been borne in mind in the production and development of the present invention.

Other features and advantages of this invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which like reference characters are employed to designate like parts throughout the same:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a hair clip constructed in accordance with the present invention as applied to the hair of an individual to hold the same outwardly off the neck of the individual;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the hair clip in the fully open position;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the hair clip in the closed position;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the forward ends of the clip members showing the locking clasp thereof; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the adjacent rearward ends of the clip members and the hinge joining the same together.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings in detail there is disclosed a hair clip constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention and designated generally by the reference numeral 10 comprising a pair of elongated resilient members 11 and 12 of matching curvilinear form and symmetrically disposed about a hinge member 13 interconnecting their adjacent rearward edges.

The clip member 11 includes a forward end 21, a rearward end 22, a concave curved top side edge 23, a convex curved bottom side edge 24, an exterior surface 25, and an interior surface 26, the clip being longitudinally curved intermediate the ends to provide that the interior surface is of a convex shape between the ends, The clip member 12 is formed substantially identical to clip member 11 and is defined by a forward end '31, a rearward end 32, a bottom concave curved shaped side edge 33, a convex curved shaped top edge 34, an exterior surface 35, and an interior surface 36, the clip member being curved longitudinally to provide that the interior surface 36 is shaped convexly intermediate the ends 31 and 32.

The rearward ends 22 and 32 of clip members 1 1 and 12 respectively are swingably pivotally interconnected by the hinge 13 which is in the form of a polypropylene plastic member of rectangular shape having segments 41 and 42 imbedded in clip members 11 and 12 respectively with attached segments 43 and 44 interconnecting segments 41 and 42 and projecting substantially normal to the interior surfaces 26 and 36 adjacent rearward edges 22 and 32 when the clip members are in the closed position.

The forward end 31 of clip member 12 is provided on interior surface 36 with a pin like projection 51 including a cylindrical boss 52 disposed adjacent surface 36 and projecting a slight distance outwardly therefrom terminating in an elongated cylindrical shank of reduced cross-section relative to the boss which, in turn, terminates in an enlarged circular head portion 54 having a diameter greater than the diameter of the shank 53. Formed in the forward end 21 of clip member 11 in a position generally aligned with projection 51 is a slot 61 extending transversely through the clip member and defined by an aperture 62 having a diameter slightly greater than the diameter of the head portion 54, with diametrically opposed wing like slots 63 projecting longitudinally therefrom and each being of a width less than the diameter of the head portion but greater than the diameter of the shank portion, the projection 51 adapted to be retained in the slot 61 when the clip members are oriented into the closed position.

The clip members 11 and 12. are preferably formed of polystyrene plastic, polyethylene plastic or the like with the projection 51 formed integrally with the clip member 12. The hinge 13 is preferably manufactured of polypropylene plastic having the desirable property of being able to be constantly flexed in a hinge like manner with no cracking, distortion or breakage at the crease point, thus providing what has become to be known as a living hinge, the hinge being preformed and then molded integrally with the molding of the clip members to form an integral part therewith. A further preferred manufacturing procedure would be to manufacture the complete clip members, projection and hinge out of polypropylene such that the entire molding procedure may take place simultaneously, with it being understood that a die orthe like may be added to the plastic resin used in the molding process so that any desired hair clip may be provided By molding the entire hair clip out of the same material as an integral product it is possible to provide a hair clip having a uniform color throughout which an individual may select to either match or complement the color of the individuals hair.

1n the operation of the hair clip 10 in a manner illustrated in the drawings to hold an individuals hair 15 away from an individual s scalp to hold the same off the neck 16 of the individual, the strands of hair to be held by the hair clip are suitably gathered in place on the individuals head, whereupon the individual places the open hair clip about the hair to be clamped therebetween with the concave formed clip bottom edges 23 and 33 disposed in close proximity to the individuals scalp such that the clip members 11 and 12 project substantially normal to the individuals scalp, after which the clip members are swung about hinge 13 to a closed position which is retained by projection head portion 54 axially passing through aperture 62 at which time the resilience of the clip members and the clamping force on the hair clamped therebetween will effect a longitudinal relative movement of the clip members relative to each other such that the projection shank portion 53 will then slide into wing slot 63, the outward forces acting on the clip members serving to engage the surface of the head portion adjacent the shank with the exterior surface of the head portion adjacent the shank with the exterior surface 25 of the clip member 11 to retain the same firmly in the closed position. To remove the hair clip 10 from the hair 15, the forward ends 21 and 31 are inwardly depressed relative to each other with the individual longitudinally sliding the clip members relative to each other until the shank 53 is disposed axially of aperture 62 at which time the shank and head portion will pass through the aperture thus releasing the clip members and permitting the clip to be removed from the hair.

By each of the clip members 11 and 12 being formed of resilient material with the interior surfaces thereof being of a convex shape such that the midsections of each of the clip members are in engagement when the clip is in the closed position with no hair clamped therebetween permitting the clip members to yield according to the thickness of the quantity of hair clamped between the clip members thus firmly and securely holding the hair clamped therebetween while simultaneously preventing the hair clip from becoming displaced from its position on the hair.

The novel use of the polypropylene hinge .in'a hair clip as aforedescribed, with the clip members being of a shape and configuration as aforedescribed, provides a novel hair clip which will firmly grasp therebetween a wide variety of quantities of an individuals hair to firmly retain the same in the manner desired by the individual and without any risk of damage to the hair.

It is to be understood that the form of this invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that this invention is not to be limited to the exact arrangement of parts shown in the accompanying drawings or described in this specification as various changes in the details of construction as to shape, size, and arrangement of parts maybe resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention, the scope of the novel concepts thereof, or the scope of the sub-joined claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. A hair clip intended for placement on an individuals head to hold portions of an individuals hair in a desired position, comprising:

a pair of elongated resilient clip members each of matching curvilinear form as being approximate mirror images of each other, each clip member having a forward end, a rearward end, a convex curved shaped top side edge, a concave curved shaped bottom side edge, an interior surface, and an exterior surface, the concave curved bottom side edges adapted with the clip members extending substantially normal to the scalp in a manner to direct outwardly from the scalp that portion of an individuals hair clamped between the clip members, each of the clip members being bowed and curved along their longitudinal axis between their respective forward and rearward ends to define their respective interior surface as a longitudinally extending convex bowed arcuate surface between the respective ends of the clip member;

the interior surfaces of the clip members disposed in overlapping juxtapositioned confronting relationship with their respective forward ends and rearward ends disposed substantially adjacent and slightly spaced from each other and with the central bowed area of the clip members contacting each other;

a hinge element formed of polypropylene plastic material and having a rectangular closed frame type configuration with end portions thereof molded integrally in the respective rearward ends of each of the clip members and projecting outwardly from the associated interior surfaces substantially normally therebetween to provide a hinge permitting the pivotal movement of the clip members in a plane normal to the plane of the hinge element between an open position wherein the interior surfaces are spaced apart from each other, and a closed position wherein the interior surfaces are in contact with each other along their midsections thereof;

a projection provided on the forward end of one of the clip members extending perpendicular to the interior surface thereof and being of a length to engage the forward end portion of the other clip member; and

an aperture in the forward end of the other clip member extending completely therethrough to coact with the projection as to receiving and detachably retaining a portion of the projection therein when the clip members are in the closed position.

2. The hair clip as set forth in claim 1 further characterized by:

the projection on the forward end of one of the clip members being comprised of a cylindrical elongated shank member having one end permanently attached to the interior surface forward end portion of the clip member with the opposite free end projecting outwardly therefrom substantially normal thereto, and an enlarged circular disc shaped head portion having a diameter greater than the diameter of the shank portion formed on the end of the shank concentric therewith and defining a shoulder portion therewith; and

the coacting aperture provided in the forward end portion of the other clip member being comprised of an opening extending completely through the forward end portion of the clip member and being of a diameter slightly greater than the diameter of the projection head portion and adapted to receive the same freely therethrough, a pair of diametrically opposed spaced apart longitudinally extending axially aligned slots extending along the longitudinal axis of the clip member from opposite edges of the hole and being of a width less than the diameter of the projection head portion and greater than the diameter of the shank portion, such that when the clip members are in the closed position the projection head portion passes through the coacting opening with the resiliency of the contacting clip members effecting a longitudinal shifting of the clip members relative to each other such that the shank portion is received in one of the slots with the shoulder portion of the projection head portion bearing against the exterior surface of the other clip member in a position above the utilized slot thus retaining the clip members in the closed position.

3. The hair clip as set forth in claim 2 wherein the projection further comprises a cylindrical boss interposed intermediate the clip member interior surface and the shank portion, the boss being of a diameter greater than the diameter of the shank portion and extending outwardly of the interior surface, the shank portion formed integrally with the boss member and disposed concentrically therewith projecting axially outwardly therefrom.

4. The hair clip as set forth in claim 3 wherein the hinge member is in the form of a rectangularly configured frame fabricated out of polypropylene plastic, opposed segments of the frame disposed integrally with the rearward end portions of the respective clip members and extending substantially the complete width thereof, the ends of the embedded segments being interconnected by segments projecting therefrom outwardly of the interior surfaces of the respective clip members in a manner substantially normal thereto and retaining the rearward end portions in general alignment spaced outwardly from each other while permitting the clip members to be swingably pivoted by flexing such interconnecting members to provide pivotal movement of the clip members relative to each other in the same place between an open and a closed position.

5. The hair clip as set forth in claim 4 wherein the pair of clip members, the projection, and the hinge member are all molded integrally as a unitary part to provide a hair clip formed of a single unitary polypropylene plastic material. 

1. A hair clip intended for placement on an individual''s head to hold portions of an individual''s hair in a desired position, comprising: a pair of elongated resilient clip members each of matching curvilinear form as being approximate mirror images of each other, each clip member having a forward end, a rearward end, a convex curved shaped top side edge, a concave curved shaped bottom side edge, an interior surface, and an exterior surface, the concave curved bottom side edges adapted with the clip members extending substantially normal to the scalp in a manner to direct outwardly from the scalp that portion of an individual''s hair clamped between the clip members, each of the clip members being bowed and curved along their longitudinal axis between their respective forward and rearward ends to define their respective interior surface as a longitudinally extending convex bowed arcuate surface between the respective ends of the clip member; the interior surfaces of the clip members disposed in overlapping juxtapositioned confronting relationship with their respective forward ends and rearward ends disposed substantially adjacent and slightly spaced from each other and with the central bowed area of the clip members contacting each other; a hinge element formed of polypropylene plastic material and having a rectangular closed frame type configuration with end portions thereof molded integrally in the respective rearward ends of each of the clip members and projecting outwardly from the associated interior surfaces substantially normally therebEtween to provide a hinge permitting the pivotal movement of the clip members in a plane normal to the plane of the hinge element between an open position wherein the interior surfaces are spaced apart from each other, and a closed position wherein the interior surfaces are in contact with each other along their midsections thereof; a projection provided on the forward end of one of the clip members extending perpendicular to the interior surface thereof and being of a length to engage the forward end portion of the other clip member; and an aperture in the forward end of the other clip member extending completely therethrough to coact with the projection as to receiving and detachably retaining a portion of the projection therein when the clip members are in the closed position.
 2. The hair clip as set forth in claim 1 further characterized by: the projection on the forward end of one of the clip members being comprised of a cylindrical elongated shank member having one end permanently attached to the interior surface forward end portion of the clip member with the opposite free end projecting outwardly therefrom substantially normal thereto, and an enlarged circular disc shaped head portion having a diameter greater than the diameter of the shank portion formed on the end of the shank concentric therewith and defining a shoulder portion therewith; and the coacting aperture provided in the forward end portion of the other clip member being comprised of an opening extending completely through the forward end portion of the clip member and being of a diameter slightly greater than the diameter of the projection head portion and adapted to receive the same freely therethrough, a pair of diametrically opposed spaced apart longitudinally extending axially aligned slots extending along the longitudinal axis of the clip member from opposite edges of the hole and being of a width less than the diameter of the projection head portion and greater than the diameter of the shank portion, such that when the clip members are in the closed position the projection head portion passes through the coacting opening with the resiliency of the contacting clip members effecting a longitudinal shifting of the clip members relative to each other such that the shank portion is received in one of the slots with the shoulder portion of the projection head portion bearing against the exterior surface of the other clip member in a position above the utilized slot thus retaining the clip members in the closed position.
 3. The hair clip as set forth in claim 2 wherein the projection further comprises a cylindrical boss interposed intermediate the clip member interior surface and the shank portion, the boss being of a diameter greater than the diameter of the shank portion and extending outwardly of the interior surface, the shank portion formed integrally with the boss member and disposed concentrically therewith projecting axially outwardly therefrom.
 4. The hair clip as set forth in claim 3 wherein the hinge member is in the form of a rectangularly configured frame fabricated out of polypropylene plastic, opposed segments of the frame disposed integrally with the rearward end portions of the respective clip members and extending substantially the complete width thereof, the ends of the embedded segments being interconnected by segments projecting therefrom outwardly of the interior surfaces of the respective clip members in a manner substantially normal thereto and retaining the rearward end portions in general alignment spaced outwardly from each other while permitting the clip members to be swingably pivoted by flexing such interconnecting members to provide pivotal movement of the clip members relative to each other in the same place between an open and a closed position.
 5. The hair clip as set forth in claim 4 wherein the pair of clip members, the projection, and the hinge member are all molded integrally as a unitary part to provide a hair clip formed of a single uNitary polypropylene plastic material. 